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You are here: Home / Past Elections / Election 2008 / Primary Open Thread

Primary Open Thread

by Tom in Texas|  March 4, 20084:49 pm| 177 Comments

This post is in: Election 2008, Politics

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Including some Texas info:

This is my voting precinct location:

There were two Obama volunteers there, both middle aged white men. Neither was standing within the frame of this shot — they flanked the sidewalk leading up to the house. The young girl in a wheelchair was from New York. Her mother was a Hillary supporter who was very much in favor of Clinton’s health care plan.

The street out front featured two more Hillary Clinton backers:

One carries a “Honk for Hillary” sign. No one honked in the 30 minutes I was there.

A volunteer at the B&B said that up to that point in the day (and including early voting) around 35% of the precinct’s eligible voters had voted in the primary. This location only hosted the Democratic primary — the GOP’s was several blocks away. The staff was in a panic because they are concerned they may have to move the caucus outside due to the size of the crowd, or even move locations ( a resolution the volunteers out front were protesting against vigorously).

And as further evidence of his Communist leanings, the side of Barack Obama’s Houston headquarters:

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Reader Interactions

177Comments

  1. 1.

    Halteclere

    March 4, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    When I voted at 7:05 this morning in Dallas, there were already Obama supporters out (two white women) but no sign of any Hillary supporters. I’m interested to see if there are more supporters at the voting location this afternoon.

  2. 2.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    Nice-lookin’ town. From what I can see, at least.

    And as further evidence of his Communist leanings, the side of Barack Obama’s Houston headquarters

    Oh come on… go the full mile. Call it Graffiti, and accuse him of tagging buildings in Da Hood :)

  3. 3.

    Mary

    March 4, 2008 at 5:04 pm

    There are reports that Obama poll watchers in Ohio have been rejected because the letters they presented as identification did not meet official documentation standards.

    Note this very interesting catch from a commenter who looked up the appropriate directive:

    Link to the SOS 2008-29 directive- sos.state.oh.us/sos/ElectionsVoter/OhioElections.aspx?Section=3406 If I’m reading that right, it says that only the local or state Democratic party can appoint an observer where the Democratic primary is concerned- and only ONE observer, unless the board of elections agrees otherwise. You have to petition the board 11 days in advance of the election. One problem: This directive was issued on February 25th, only 9 days before the election. The fix appears to be in.

    I went to the site and found this:

    All appointing authorities must appoint observers in writing using forms prescribed by the secretary of state. Secretary of state “Notice of Appointment” Forms include: Form No. 214 for state and county political parties; Form No. 216 for groups of candidates; and Form No. 219 for issue committees.

    The relevant form(s) listed above must be filed with the board of elections for each county in which the appointing authority seeks to appoint observers. These forms must be filed no later than four p.m. on the eleventh (11th) day before the election in question and must provide the names and qualified voting addresses of the appointees, along with the precinct and/or board of elections at which each appointee will serve.

    So:

    1) Did the Ohio officials really post this only 9 days ago?
    2) If so, are any Clinton poll-watchers showing the correct documentation? How did they manage to file the request at least 2 days before the directive was posted?

    A 2 day discrepancy like this, if it exists, would be pretty clumsy. Is it possible we’re misreading this?

  4. 4.

    Zifnab

    March 4, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    :p Needless to say, deep in the heart of DeLay country, we did not have a great deal of Obamarama. Although, when I arrived, the lines to vote for Dem and Republican were nearly even (6 each). That never happens around here.

  5. 5.

    ThymeZone

    March 4, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    Her mother was a Hillary supporter who was very much in favor of Clinton’s health care plan

    Well, maybe she can find someone who can implement that plan for her. In 15 years, the Clintons didn’t manage to get us any closer to having it.

  6. 6.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 5:08 pm

    The staff was in a panic because they are concerned they may have to move the caucus outside due to the size of the crowd, or even move locations ( a resolution the volunteers out front were protesting against vigorously).

    moving it outside is acceptable. Moving the location entirely requires that a vote be taken by the caucus participants, and that can’t happen until everyone is signed in on the temporary roll, and that can’t start until 7:15 at the earliest — and once everyone is signed in, and has expressed their preferences on the sign in sheet, the whole issue becomes moot because people can leave the caucus once the “election of delegates” agenda item is announced (at which point the distribution of delegates by candidate is also announced, and most people can go home anyway.)

  7. 7.

    Ted Barlow

    March 4, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    Tom, you live about five minutes from me. Weird.

  8. 8.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    And as further evidence of his Communist leanings, the side of Barack Obama’s Houston headquarters:

    actually, it looks more like evidence of the simplemindedness of Obama supporters — I mean, its basically a paint-by-numbers template, and certainly not a reflection of the soviet ‘realist’ school.

  9. 9.

    Jimitha

    March 4, 2008 at 5:18 pm

    It’s laudable to have more people covered in any sense, but with universal health care as currently proposed we’re mostly going to move the coverage denial from the front-end (no insurance) to the back-end (claim denied).

    There was just a story about Aetna denying therapy coverage for a brain-damaged girl, after 6 months of therapy and a $30,000 bill. Expect more of this.

  10. 10.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 5:18 pm

    p.luk — that sounds rational, but after the mishigoss that was the Washington Democratic caucus, I wonder if “rational” applies to caucus rules. Are those national party rules, or Texas state rules?

  11. 11.

    Chris Johnson

    March 4, 2008 at 5:19 pm

    Gah! In soviet Obama, buildings have the flag pins!

  12. 12.

    Davebo

    March 4, 2008 at 5:20 pm

    Well you’ve gotta admit the Montrose/Museum district is like a gold mine for Obama.

    Wonder how he’s playing in areas like Pasadena, Galena Park, etc?

  13. 13.

    zzyzx

    March 4, 2008 at 5:23 pm

    after the mishigoss that was the Washington Democratic caucus

    I assume you meant Nevada (in Clark County), not Washington. I haven’t heard anything weird that happened here.

  14. 14.

    Billy K

    March 4, 2008 at 5:23 pm

    Oh, and BTW, FWIW, FYI, WTF…

    A friend of mine here in a Dallas suburb (Plano) went to vote this morning. He said Obama/Clinton signs were about equal. On the GOP side there was one sign for Ron Paul. That was it. There was a line to vote Democrat, and tumbleweeds on the GOP side.

    I know y’all probably don’t know this area that well, but this is a huge deal. This place is affluent yuppies and SUV-driving soccer moms. They vote very red. At least they have in the past.

  15. 15.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 5:23 pm

    No, Chris, In Soviet Obama, flag pin wears you out.

  16. 16.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 5:24 pm

    I assume you meant Nevada (in Clark County), not Washington. I haven’t heard anything weird that happened here.

    My precinct was a nightmare, over in central King County.

  17. 17.

    Dork

    March 4, 2008 at 5:24 pm

    it’s clear that “HOPE” in that sign stands for “Homosexuals Open to Penis Extensions”, and therefore, is a clear sign that Obama supports the gay agenda. Hell, the sign’s got every color of the rainbow on it, except yellow, green, orange, indigo, and violet.

    And is that the flag of Cuba on his lapel? Estonia? Obvious liberal fascist.

  18. 18.

    Zifnab

    March 4, 2008 at 5:24 pm

    It’s laudable to have more people covered in any sense, but with universal health care as currently proposed we’re mostly going to move the coverage denial from the front-end (no insurance) to the back-end (claim denied).

    There was just a story about Aetna denying therapy coverage for a brain-damaged girl, after 6 months of therapy and a $30,000 bill. Expect more of this.

    Most of the insurance plans involve the government entering into the market place as a bottom line provider. The earliest suggestions involved simply expanding Medicare to cover everyone.

    That said, Hillary’s “give people the option to buy into Congressional health insurance” idea has a certain degree of Darwinian merit. Congresscritters like a good health care policy and hold a great deal of political power. Ergo, they will fight like rabid wolverines to make sure the coverage you share is adequate.

    But universal coverage is as much about providing an alternative to the shitty pay-for-nothing health insurance system currently in existence as it is about covering those people who can’t afford insurance at all.

  19. 19.

    zzyzx

    March 4, 2008 at 5:29 pm

    Well ok then. Ours was just boring. People signed in. We counted. 1 person switched. We counted again. There was one weird mishap where the (Clinton favoring) chair told everyone to go home before we made sure that there were enough Obama delegates, but that got worked out.

  20. 20.

    The Mantis

    March 4, 2008 at 5:47 pm

    FYI, the campaign poster you put up is actually a replica of a limited edition campaign poster created by Shepard Fairey, otherwise known as Obey, who was instrumental in popularizing pre-internet viral “street art,” namely the “Andre the Giant has a posse” stickers you used to see stuck on the bottom of skateboards, on walls, in subway cars, etc. He has a very distinct style, borrowing heavily from Lenin-era propaganda. As anyone under the age of 30 about either the “Obey” brand or “Andre the Giant hasa posse,” and they’ll fill you in. Clearly, Obama’s tapping the youth vote a little more effectively than the fellas at Balloon Juice! ; ) Keep up the good work, and check out the Obey website here: obeygiant.com/

  21. 21.

    tim serbo

    March 4, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    oh, for god’s sake, lukasiak, you’re criticizing a fucking MURAL to score points for your preferred candidate? i usually just ignore your crap, but this is the limit. you’re just a hopeless tool, you know that? the only cure for your condition is a frosty mug of STFU. go ahead, have several. i’m buying.

  22. 22.

    tim serbo

    March 4, 2008 at 5:51 pm

    also, zzyzx, it’s spelled “mishegas.” i’m a WASP, but after 23 years in new york, my yiddish is near-fluent.

  23. 23.

    Dug Jay

    March 4, 2008 at 5:52 pm

    Montrose section of Houston, locally referred to as the gay San Francisco of Texas. Nice restaurants.

  24. 24.

    Dug Jay

    March 4, 2008 at 5:52 pm

    Montrose section of Houston, locally referred to as the gay San Francisco of Texas. Nice restaurants.

  25. 25.

    Dennis - SGMM

    March 4, 2008 at 5:53 pm

    This year’s primaries have been exciting because many more voters felt that their vote actually had an influence. It’s going to be a bit of a letdown if this general election once again devolves to a few swing states with the rest of us being taken for granted. I suspect that many of the Dems’ huge gains in turnout will evaporate if it goes back to all-Ohio and all-Florida all of the time.

  26. 26.

    Grumpy Code Monkey

    March 4, 2008 at 5:55 pm

    On my commute through Austin, I see about a dozen huge signs for Paul, and nothing for McCain or Huckabee.

    RoonieRoo described our precinct in the “Suckers” thread; basically a crapload of Democrats and maybe 10 Republicans. Of course, that’s probably not significant; Travis County is pretty blue, and the GOP nomination is all but sewn up, so there wasn’t much reason to expect huge turnout on that side, but the disparity was still jarring. At least 8:1, probably more.

    I have no idea how the Democrats were voting. I have no idea how many of them were spoofers trying to queer the results. I don’t recall seeing anyone from either presidential campaign there (not that Manor would be worth their time), and the bulk of the signage was for state and local races.

  27. 27.

    Jake

    March 4, 2008 at 5:57 pm

    Thanks for keeping us posted TmnTx. But what’s that green stuff on the trees?

  28. 28.

    John S.

    March 4, 2008 at 6:01 pm

    actually, it looks more like evidence of the simplemindedness of Obama supporters

    You’re just jealous.

    Obama’s brand image is the best in politics. Ever. Many of us folks in the advertising industry have been talking about it for months now. Hillary’s brand looks old and dated – like her supporters. Zing!

  29. 29.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 6:04 pm

    Are those national party rules, or Texas state rules?

    state rules. see especially pages 22 & 23, (rules 6B and 10 on those pages).

    also see this, which is slightly less arcane in its language..

  30. 30.

    chopper

    March 4, 2008 at 6:05 pm

    also, zzyzx, it’s spelled “mishegas.”

    its yiddish. you spell it however you want, there’s no official spelling. same with hebrew.

  31. 31.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    oh, for god’s sake, lukasiak, you’re criticizing a fucking MURAL to score points for your preferred candidate?

    I was actually criticizing Tom’s mis-identification of the poster as somehow “communist”. The closest that this thing comes to communist art is the Andy Warhol portrait of Mao Tse Tung.

  32. 32.

    Tom in Texas

    March 4, 2008 at 6:08 pm

    you may want to check the minimum distance section in there Paul. The Obamanaut I talked to was grumbling about their being way too close to the door.

  33. 33.

    DougJ

    March 4, 2008 at 6:16 pm

    gay San Francisco

    Isn’t that redundant? Did you mean it’s called “the Castro” of Houston? (I don’t think the Castro actually has that many great restaurants, btw.)

  34. 34.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 6:18 pm

    I was actually criticizing Tom’s mis-identification of the poster as somehow “communist”. The closest that this thing comes to communist art is the Andy Warhol portrait of Mao Tse Tung.

    Shorter p luk: You’re a stupid, crude monkey of an Obama supporter for thinking I was insulting you because of the murals. In fact I’m much more sophisticated than that: I was insulting you for _misidentifying_ the mural. Of course, a vote for Obama is a vote for teaching our kids false Art History.

  35. 35.

    Dennis - SGMM

    March 4, 2008 at 6:19 pm

    …the simplemindedness of Obama supporters…

    Well, you’ve won me over. I want to join those finely-tuned complex minds whose preferred candidate with her “Three Faces of Eve” campaign personnas and her organizational ineptitude has turned double digit leads into a fight for life.

  36. 36.

    Jake

    March 4, 2008 at 6:22 pm

    FYI, the campaign poster you put up is actually a replica of a limited edition campaign poster created by Shepard Fairey

    Great. Now I have to have one of the t-shirts AND the Bob Mould poster. Whrz my rebate check at, beotch?

  37. 37.

    AkaDad

    March 4, 2008 at 6:23 pm

    I think it’s incredibly important to note, whatever happens tonight, there will clearly be negative ramifications for the Democratic party.

    /Dork

  38. 38.

    tim serbo

    March 4, 2008 at 6:24 pm

    chopper, if you read malamud or roth or singer, you’ll see that they spell it mishegas. i’m happy to defer to them.

  39. 39.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 6:29 pm

    Of course, a vote for Obama is a vote for teaching our kids false Art History.

    fixed.

    I mean, Obama has been consistently opposed to the war? Clinton’s vote on the AUMF meant she supported Bush’s unilateral invasion of Iraq? Clinton’s praise of NAFTA in her capacity as First Lady over 10 years ago are proof that in 2005 she thought NAFTA was a boon?

  40. 40.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 6:29 pm

    O/T, but did anybody see this video?

    Getting out of the way the reasonable ideas that none of the polled people knew the ad ahead of time, and that undecideds could very well be biased against Hillary… there’s one thing that stands out…

    When “your vote will decide” is said, the Clinton line rapidly rises. So what would this mean? Clinton voters are very keen on their votes being successful, therefore disenfranchisement is a common feeling among Clinton supporters?

    Maybe it’s not just that female Clinton supporters want to see a woman in the WH, but they feel like their previous votes have been for naught because they were for men?

    Or maybe Clinton’s hat in the ring dragged out women who rarely voted before _because_ the candidates all used to be men?

    hmm… I like that last guess. Thoughts?

  41. 41.

    DougJ

    March 4, 2008 at 6:32 pm

    I was actually criticizing Tom’s mis-identification of the poster as somehow “communist”.

    I think it looked more Muslim than communist to me.

  42. 42.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 6:33 pm

    I want to join those finely-tuned complex minds whose preferred candidate with her “Three Faces of Eve” campaign personnas

    oh damn! I keep forgetting that women are only allowed to have one side to their personalities — otherwise, they’re like “Eve” or “Sybil”… or at minimum subject to violent mood swings because of their “little visitors” each month.

    I’m less offended by your blatant misogyny that the fact that such misogyny coming from Obama supporters never gets called by other Obama supporters.

  43. 43.

    Dennis - SGMM

    March 4, 2008 at 6:40 pm

    Blatant misogyny? Look, punk, I’ve been happily married to the same wonderful woman for thirty years. “Three Faces of Eve” was a cinematic allusion. I guess that I’m just too simpleminded to use allusion.

    You rewrite history all you want, but when you construct a hysterical castle in the air to justify calling me a misogynist then you’re just being an asshole.

  44. 44.

    cleek

    March 4, 2008 at 6:42 pm

    and another one joins the pie factory!

  45. 45.

    zsa

    March 4, 2008 at 6:45 pm

    The mural has been vandalized … it doesn’t say “HOPE”, it says “HDPE”, and it is Obama’s exhortation to recycle High-density polyethylene.

    Wow … that seemed a lot funnier before I wrote it down.

    MUP FTW!

  46. 46.

    chopper

    March 4, 2008 at 6:48 pm

    chopper, if you read malamud or roth or singer, you’ll see that they spell it mishegas. i’m happy to defer to them.

    really, you can spell “משוגעת” however you please. its quite commonly spelled ‘meshugas’ or ‘mushugas’ or ‘meshuggas’ as well.

    hell, there are like 10 different spellings for chanukah. again, there’s no official spelling.

  47. 47.

    zsa

    March 4, 2008 at 6:51 pm

    The recycling initiative, I hasten to add, is all part of Obama’s Five Four-Year Plan.

    That … and tractor production. Lots and lots of tractors.

  48. 48.

    Dennis - SGMM

    March 4, 2008 at 6:52 pm

    really, you can spell “משוגעת” however you please. its quite commonly spelled ‘meshugas’ or ‘mushugas’ or ‘meshuggas’ as well.

    Isn’t that because Hebrew doesn’t always use vowels? I’m no linguist but I seem to recall that Hebrew is often written without vowels.

  49. 49.

    myiq2xu

    March 4, 2008 at 6:53 pm

    I find it hilarious that Obama is avoiding the press now. Scrutiny instead of fluffery will do that.

  50. 50.

    DougJ

    March 4, 2008 at 6:54 pm

    I’m no linguist but I seem to recall that Hebrew is often written without vowels.

    Anti-semite.

  51. 51.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 6:56 pm

    oh damn! I keep forgetting that women are only allowed to have one side to their personalities—otherwise, they’re like “Eve” or “Sybil”… or at minimum subject to violent mood swings because of their “little visitors” each month.

    I’m less offended by your blatant misogyny that the fact that such misogyny coming from Obama supporters never gets called by other Obama supporters.

    Let us all please observe this!

    A Clinton support outright accuses a non-Clinton supporter of misogyny. Why? Because the accused referenced a film about multiple personalities, and that firm happened to have a woman as the lead role suffering from the disorder. This leads p luk to assume that the female lead role speaks to all women, instead of just that one role.

    These poor bastards are _so certain_ that there’s sexism out there working against them, that when it doesn’t show its face they have to weave an illusion so that their desperate self-confirmation holds.

    Because without the charge of sexism, they’d have to admit they just tossed their hopes of our first woman President (and a whole lotta $$) behind an ineffectual egomaniac. This really is getting sad. They need to cry into their pillow and get it out of their system.

  52. 52.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 6:57 pm

    Hebrew is typically written without vowels, yes. There are, however, diacritical marks used in beginner texts to disambiguate pronunciation.

    — demi “just wait until I get started on kashidas, OK” mondian

  53. 53.

    Dennis - SGMM

    March 4, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    Anti-semite.

    Aw shit, you guys pinned me. I’m a misogynistic, anti-semitic, ethnocentric, racist. If you aren’t Scotch-Irish-Italian-German-Czech with a son who’s Scotch-Irish-Italian-German-Czech-Latino then I have no use for you.

  54. 54.

    jcricket

    March 4, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    p.luk—that sounds rational, but after the mishigoss that was the Washington Democratic caucus, I wonder if “rational” applies to caucus rules. Are those national party rules, or Texas state rules?

    FOR THE LOVE OF GOD: Why can’t the whole nation go to primary voting instead of caucuses and all-mail-voting w/optical scan ballots instead of the ridiculous mishmash of systems and processes we have now. Then improve the system by making it possible to print your ballot at home (so you get rid of the errors associated with not filling in bubbles correctly).

    Oh how I hate our voting system(s) in this country.

    This is speaking as someone who is a resident of WA state, where at least we’re headed the right direction. Although even in WA state people bitch about the whole party ID thing for the primary (I 100% support party-ID-requiring primaries).

  55. 55.

    myiq2xu

    March 4, 2008 at 7:00 pm

    Good thing the MUP has transcended rules:

    Jeralyn at Talkleft has the breaking story, “Dirty Tricks in Texas and Ohio?“:

    I’m receiving reports that contrary to Texas Democratic party caucus rules that preclude registration forms from being submitted before either 7:15 pm or the last vote at a precinct has been cast, Obama volunteers are handing out the forms at precincts today and asking people to fill them in and then collecting them. For Obama to submit the forms on the voters’ behalf without the voter physically being present at the caucus would violate the rules.

  56. 56.

    chopper

    March 4, 2008 at 7:01 pm

    I find it hilarious that Obama is avoiding the press now. Scrutiny instead of fluffery will do that.

    are you sure you don’t have a newsletter i can have a copy of?

  57. 57.

    DougJ

    March 4, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    Dennis – SGMM: admit it, the only reason support Obama is your hatred of women and Jews. That’s why you’re voting for a cokehead muslim. I hope you’re proud of yourself. I’ll be you’ve never even been to gay San Francisco.

  58. 58.

    Krista

    March 4, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    I want to join those finely-tuned complex minds whose preferred candidate with her “Three Faces of Eve” campaign personnas

    oh damn! I keep forgetting that women are only allowed to have one side to their personalities—otherwise, they’re like “Eve” or “Sybil”… or at minimum subject to violent mood swings because of their “little visitors” each month.

    lukasiak, you’re being a jerk. It’s no secret that Hillary’s campaign has been all over the goddamn place. Her message has changed just about every week, her tactics have changed even more often than that, and the campaign vision of who she is has been so scattered, that if you described all of the various stages of her campaign separately, you would swear that one was talking about at least three discrete people.

    It’s one thing to show different facets of your personality — that can be a good thing. But it’s quite another to be all over the damned map. Pointing that out is not misogynistic. I think you owe Dennis an apology.

  59. 59.

    jcricket

    March 4, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    Hebrew is typically written without vowels, yes. There are, however, diacritical marks used in beginner texts to disambiguate pronunciation.
    —demi “just wait until I get started on kashidas, OK” mondian

    But the reason there are many spellings isn’t because of the vowel issue. It’s because there isn’t a 1:1 match between the Hebrew Alphabet and the English Alphabet. This is the same as the issue with Arabic. Although neither are pictographic (?) alphabets like Chinese, there is ambiguity as to how certain letters or letter combinations should be represented in English. Take for example the 23 spellings of Kadafi’s name. Or the inability to capture how you pronounce “Qatar” in anything resembling English.

    I also don’t think it’s fully accurate to state only beginner texts have the vowels. The Torah doesn’t, but I’ve read plenty of non-kid books that have the vowels in them. Can’t recall whether the newspapers use the vowels or not. It’s just weird to have a language where the vowels aren’t part of the alphabet in the same way they are in English.

  60. 60.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    Good thing the MUP has transcended rules:

    You stopped trying loonnnnng ago.

    Get up. Put on your coat. Go have a beer. Play a couple games of pool, or something.

    Seriously.

  61. 61.

    4tehlulz

    March 4, 2008 at 7:04 pm

    MSNBC calls VT for Obama.

  62. 62.

    jcricket

    March 4, 2008 at 7:04 pm

    —demi “just wait until I get started on kashidas, OK” mondian

    Stop all the kvetching btw. It’s not becoming a lady.

  63. 63.

    jcricket

    March 4, 2008 at 7:06 pm

    Dennis – SGMM: admit it, the only reason support Obama is your hatred of women and Jews.

    I am opposing Obama to piss TZ off, mainly. And b/c I don’t like typing the letters Obama. Clinton is easier for me to type.

  64. 64.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 7:06 pm

    But it’s quite another to be all over the damned map.

    /gasp/ Did you accuse Hillary of being unable to read a map??

    Are… are you Charlotte Allen??

  65. 65.

    chopper

    March 4, 2008 at 7:07 pm

    Can’t recall whether the newspapers use the vowels or not.

    never seen vowels in a hewbrew newspaper.

  66. 66.

    chopper

    March 4, 2008 at 7:07 pm

    hebrew, even.

  67. 67.

    Dennis - SGMM

    March 4, 2008 at 7:07 pm

    I hope you’re proud of yourself. I’ll be you’ve never even been to gay San Francisco.

    My dear brother lives in Noe Valley. But, when we visit him I am careful to be very disdainful and to perform as many acts of misogynistic heterosexuality as possible.

  68. 68.

    DougJ

    March 4, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    But it’s quite another to be all over the damned map.

    Next you’ll be talking about her wandering uterus.

  69. 69.

    DougJ

    March 4, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    My dear brother lives in Noe Valley.

    I’ll bet you never go to the Castro though.

  70. 70.

    chopper

    March 4, 2008 at 7:09 pm

    MSNBC calls VT for Obama.

    so does CNN.

  71. 71.

    Dennis - SGMM

    March 4, 2008 at 7:12 pm

    I’ll bet you never go to the Castro though.

    Only to go to that gorgeous old movie house (Whose name escapes my aged mind at the moment) to watch Buster Keaton revivals.

  72. 72.

    Krista

    March 4, 2008 at 7:16 pm

    /gasp/ Did you accuse Hillary of being unable to read a map??

    Are… are you Charlotte Allen??

    Ha! No. I don’t write offensive bullshit about women, and then when called upon it, cover my ass by claiming that it was intended to be satire.

    And I think Hillary can probably read a map just fine. But you can’t keep changing your mind regarding what route you want to take to get to your destination, or you’ll never have a chance in hell of getting there. It’s like the clown car from hell, stuffed full of advisors going “Go this way! No! Go that way!”

  73. 73.

    jcricket

    March 4, 2008 at 7:17 pm

    hebrew, even.

    Obviously latent self-hating antisemitism in your typos.

  74. 74.

    AkaDad

    March 4, 2008 at 7:20 pm

    This issue about Hillary being all over the map isn’t a huge deal because it only happens periodically.

  75. 75.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    Technically, Chinese and the various East Asian languages written in Hana or their derivatives are “ideographic”. Pictographs are hieroglyphs — Ancient Egyptian, Mayan script, and the like.

    Basically, there are four broad classes of writing systems in use today: Romanesque systems, such as those used in Western Europe, but usually also considered to include Turkish, Greek, and languages using Cyrillic, bidirectional (Hebrew, Arabic, Urdu, Pashto, and the like), Hana (Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese), and complex (Devanagri and Indic scripts, Vietnamese and Thai.)

    — demi “And don’t ask me why I know this” mondian

  76. 76.

    chopper

    March 4, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    This issue about Hillary being all over the map isn’t a huge deal because it only happens periodically.

    too soon.

  77. 77.

    Billy K

    March 4, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    Just got back from primary voting in the heart of Dallas (actual Dallas, not a suburb). It was hilarious.

    My district is probably left-leaning, but due to extreme gerrymandering, my rep. is a Republican (and a complete asshole). But I just saw a line of about 40 people waiting to cast Democrat ballots. In the time I was there, I saw two people walk into the room for Republican voting. I mean, it was just sad. If ever there were clear, visual proof that “W” has destroyed his party, this is it.

    I’m going back in an hour to caucus. I think I look like an Obama supporter, cause the gang yelled at me as I walked up, “Obama supporter!?” They gave me all the info of how to caucus, when, where, time demands, etc. They were full of energy. There were about 6 of them that tried to assimilate me. There was another group of about 6 folks with Obama signs and chairs and such. I saw one lone Hillary sign and no one seemed to claim her. The contrast in ground game is just ridiculous.

    Anyway… .02.

    P.S. Oh – and I was really struck by the diversity of voters. People seemingly from all kinds of groups, demos, incomes, etc. Remarkable.

  78. 78.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    It’s one thing to show different facets of your personality—that can be a good thing. But it’s quite another to be all over the damned map. Pointing that out is not misogynistic. I think you owe Dennis an apology.

    like hell I do.

    This idea that somehow or other Clinton has been “all over the map” is pure bullshit…. Hillary Clinton has displayed a completely “Presidential” demeanor most of the time. Sometimes she gets angry. Other times, she opens up and shows who she is as a person. This isn’t “all over the map”, its perfectly normal.

    And IMHO, insofar as Hillary-hate is rooted in misogyny, every time you repeat the talking points that have devolved from the Hillary-haters, you are adopting the language of misogyny.

  79. 79.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    But you can’t keep changing your mind regarding what route you want to take to get to your destination, or you’ll never have a chance in hell of getting there.

    Krista is a man.

    Women are perfectly willing to change course, when its necessary. This idea that you have to go in the same direction until you run out of road, or over a cliff, is pure testosterone-driven nonsense.

  80. 80.

    RoonieRoo

    March 4, 2008 at 7:25 pm

    Waiting for the GrumpyCodeMonkey to come home so I can go play at the “caucus”. Anybody else going back to the caucus?

  81. 81.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 7:26 pm

    p.luk…umm…no, Krista is definitely female. Some of us have seen each other in person, you know.

  82. 82.

    Dug Jay

    March 4, 2008 at 7:26 pm

    NBC’s astrologer is predicting a Hillary win in the remaining three states, with an especially decisive win in Ohio.

  83. 83.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 7:27 pm

    To be clear — I suppose that the picture she sent out of her in her wedding dress COULD have been of someone else. But, given the story she told about it, I doubt it.

  84. 84.

    John D.

    March 4, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    demi “And don’t ask me why I know this” mondian

    Because you’re a cunning linguist?

  85. 85.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    NBC’s astrologer is predicting a Hillary win in the remaining three states, with an especially -decisive- divisive win in Ohio.

    Here, don’t ever say we aren’t helpful here.

    And it’s clearly going to help the GOP.

  86. 86.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    Hillary Clinton has displayed a completely “Presidential” demeanor most of the time

    Highlighted by NBC in the Ohio Debates:

    MR. WILLIAMS: A lot has been said since we last gathered in this forum, certainly since — in the few days since you two last debated. Senator Clinton, in your comments especially, the difference has been striking. And let’s begin by taking a look.

    SEN. CLINTON: (From videotape.) You know, no matter what happens in this contest — and I am honored, I am honored to be here with Barack Obama. I am absolutely honored. (Cheers, applause.)

    (From videotape.) So shame on you, Barack Obama. It is time you ran a campaign consistent with your messages in public. That’s what I expect from you. Meet me in Ohio. Let’s have a debate about your tactics and your — (cheers, applause).

  87. 87.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 7:31 pm

    Because you’re a cunning linguist

    Heh. No, although I was a part of a linguistics department for a while. And, yes, the grad student intramural basketball team was, indeed, called “The Cunning Linguists”.

    I always liked to remind them that they were the field which deemphasized performance to focus on underlying competence, and that it showed in their play.

  88. 88.

    jcricket

    March 4, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    To be clear—I suppose that the picture she sent out of her in her wedding dress COULD have been of someone else. But, given the story she told about it, I doubt it.

    Judging by the recent rash of fake memoirists and the lengths those people are willing to go to lie, I might be more suspicious if I were you :-)

    The Times just posted a fascinating follow-up article on the saga of fake memoirist Magaret Seltzer, the well-off white lady who pretended to be a half-Native American gangbanger raised by a foster parent in the ghetto

    I’m mostly kidding about Krista, btw.

  89. 89.

    Krista

    March 4, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    It’s not her personality, you fucking asshat. It’s her tactics. It’s her campaign. She’s adopted language from Edwards and even Obama himself, trying to paint herself as an optimist and an agent for change. And then she’s turned around and gone very negative in this campaign. Her campaign MESSAGE has changed not once, not twice, but several times throughout the campaign.

    Here’s a timeline:

    1. Let’s have a conversation (last year)

    2. Inevitable candidate – explaining past positions, attacking POTUS, etc. (Sept. 07 – Dec. 07)

    3. Experience (Dec. 07 – NH Primary)

    4. Change (NH Primary – week before Super Tuesday)

    5. Change + Experience (week before Super Tuesday – two weeks ago)

    6. Belittling Change Candidate with Republican Frontrunner (present)

    7. TBD

    Pointing that out does not mean that I hate Hillary, that I’m repeating “talking points” or that I’m a misogynist, you bloviating jackass. Pointing it out means that I have eyes in my fucking head.

    I’m a woman and a feminist and I think that Hillary Clinton’s campaign has been a disorganized mess. And I’m not alone. Deal with it.

  90. 90.

    jcricket

    March 4, 2008 at 7:33 pm

    And it’s clearly going to help the GOP.

    Doesn’t everything? Hillary wins? Helps the GOP. Obama wins? Helps the GOP.

    GOP loses the election? Helps the GOP.

    GOP accidentally sets fire to own self? Helps the GOP.

    I could go on and on.

  91. 91.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 7:33 pm

    Krista is a man.

    Women are perfectly willing to change course, when its necessary. This idea that you have to go in the same direction until you run out of road, or over a cliff, is pure testosterone-driven nonsense.

    OK, now you’re being such a sexist asshole that you misassigned the gender of one of the standard bearers around here.

    Because you’re certain that sex maps discretely, directly to personality, without fail.

    Damn, you’re a hella asshole.

  92. 92.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 7:33 pm

    p.luk…umm…no, Krista is definitely female. Some of us have seen each other in person, you know.

    in other words, when “Krista” attends a a drag ball, he gets big props for “realness”? ;-)

    In fact, I think I’ve seen her…”Krista Nacht –she’ll shatter your heart like a Baccarat champagne goblet thrown into a fireplace!”

  93. 93.

    jcricket

    March 4, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    I always liked to remind them that they were the field which deemphasized performance to focus on underlying competence, and that it showed in their play.

    Not so much about the wins as how you play the game? Spoken like a true Democrat :-)

  94. 94.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    Not so much about the wins as how you play the game? Spoken like a true Democrat :-)

    jcricket FTW

  95. 95.

    jcricket

    March 4, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    In the time I was there, I saw two people walk into the room for Republican voting. I mean, it was just sad. If ever there were clear, visual proof that “W” has destroyed his party, this is it.

    Please let this enthusiasm gap continue into the general election. I would love nothing more than for Dems to take states they’re not expected to, win a bunch more Senate and House seats because of turnout, etc.

    2010 is around the corner, and we get to redraw the maps if we’re in charge. It’s about time that blue states went hyper-blue, and purple states went solid blue. Anyone voting Republican out of habit anymore, or Dems staying home b/c they think politics doesn’t matter needs to get off their duff.

  96. 96.

    Dennis - SGMM

    March 4, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    And IMHO, insofar as Hillary-hate is rooted in misogyny, every time you repeat the talking points that have devolved from the Hillary-haters, you are adopting the language of misogyny.

    You have much to be humble about. I gave up hating anyone after employing an M60A1 machine gun for a year in the Mekong Delta. Criticism of Senator Clinton is neither hatred of nor is it misogyny. There is much for progressives to criticize in the Senator’s record. By attributing any criticism of her to hatred you take political discussion out of the realm of reason and into the realm of emotion. Denigrating anyone who criticizes your candidate is to create a fragile vessel for the general election.

    As for the apology, I’ll consider the source of the insult.

  97. 97.

    John D.

    March 4, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    And IMHO, insofar as Hillary-hate is rooted in misogyny, every time you repeat the talking points that have devolved from the Hillary-haters, you are adopting the language of misogyny.

    Hold the phone.

    Where, exactly, do you get off making that claim?

    Is it not possible to dislike Hillary for being Hillary, rather than being a woman? You seem to be saying that this is not the case. If that is your contention, then I’ll have to line up with a lot of the people here and offer you a nice glass of STFU.

    Screaming “sexism!” and “misogyny!” whenever someone says something critical of Hillary is — at the very best — annoying, and at worst highly counterproductive. Her campaign *has* been all over the map. That’s not dismissive, insulting, or sexist. It’s my own personal read, based on the evidence of watching her ads, listening to her phone calls, and seeing her statements to the press.

    IMHO, her campaign has devolved into a “throw it all against the wall and see what sticks” type. It makes me sad, a little angry, and a whole lot disappointed. She was my candidate when this season started, and I dislike finding out that the ones I support have feet of clay. Had she stayed positive, hopeful, and forward-looking, I’d probably still support her. As it is, I’d like to see her defeated, to apply negative reinforcement to future politicians.

  98. 98.

    Mary

    March 4, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    Fuck you, p. luk.

    Josh Marshall says Ohio is called for McCain, but is too close to call for the Dems. I’m guessing that Hilary might still get the 8 point margin the Ohio chair says she needs, but it almost certainly won’t be a blowout on either side.

  99. 99.

    AkaDad

    March 4, 2008 at 7:38 pm

    Pointing that out does not mean that I hate Hillary, that I’m repeating “talking points” or that I’m a misogynist, you bloviating jackass. Pointing it out means that I have eyes in my fucking head.

    I’m a woman and a feminist and I think that Hillary Clinton’s campaign has been a disorganized mess. And I’m not alone. Deal with it.

    *swoons*

  100. 100.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 7:38 pm

    Here’s a timeline:

    I assume that the Obama-Ade that you’ve been drinking is not artifically sweetened, because you’re exhibiting signs of someone on some kind of suger high. (Will you use the Twinkie defense tomorrow?)

  101. 101.

    Krista

    March 4, 2008 at 7:39 pm

    But you can’t keep changing your mind regarding what route you want to take to get to your destination, or you’ll never have a chance in hell of getting there.

    Krista is a man.

    Women are perfectly willing to change course, when its necessary. This idea that you have to go in the same direction until you run out of road, or over a cliff, is pure testosterone-driven nonsense.

    Reading comprehension is FUN! I said that if you have a destination in mind, but you keep changing your mind and turning around every 5km, you’ll get nowhere fast. You somehow turned this into me advocating a Bush-like, stupid insistence on refusing to change course even when the course is leading straight towards disaster.

    I can has Hooked on Phonics?

  102. 102.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 7:40 pm

    Hold the line here, jcricket…

    All campaigns are effectively “throw it against the wall and see what sticks”. You never know what’s going to work with the voters until it actually does work, or fails to work. Successful campaigns are those which find the right spaghetti early on, and then can transcend the search for a working attack.

  103. 103.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 7:41 pm

    p.luk…umm…no, Krista is definitely female. Some of us have seen each other in person, you know.

    in other words, when “Krista” attends a a drag ball, he gets big props for “realness”? ;-)

    In fact, I think I’ve seen her…”Krista Nacht—she’ll shatter your heart like a Baccarat champagne goblet thrown into a fireplace!”

    We can handle you being delusional. It’s OK for you to be annoying. Sexist is pushing it.

    Now you’re trolling.

    You represent Hillary well.

  104. 104.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 7:41 pm

    Sorry, John D., not jcricket.

    (That’s twice I’ve misattributed you, John. Sorry.)

  105. 105.

    Mary

    March 4, 2008 at 7:41 pm

    Obama takes all demo groups in VT

  106. 106.

    chopper

    March 4, 2008 at 7:43 pm

    thus, vermont doesn’t matter.

  107. 107.

    Krista

    March 4, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    I assume that the Obama-Ade that you’ve been drinking is not artifically sweetened, because you’re exhibiting signs of someone on some kind of suger high.

    Awwww…you’re so adorable when you retreat to weak attacks like that instead of presenting an argument showing why you DON’T think that Hillary’s campaign has been a scattered mess.

    Does somebody need a nap?

  108. 108.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    Is it not possible to dislike Hillary for being Hillary, rather than being a woman? You seem to be saying that this is not the case.

    yeah. I think that when you talk about “disliking” someone (as opposed to not supporting them) you’ve achieved the point where your emotions have taken over.

    Its possible to support Obama over Hillary, and state rational reasons for doing so. “She’s all over the map” and “she exhibits multiple personalities” are not rational critiques, they are driven by “Hillary hatred”…. and that does have its roots in misogyny (i.e. Hillary hatred has its roots in the idea of Hillary as co-president. The idea of women as equal, especially wives as equals, is threatening to a lot more men that will admit it.)

  109. 109.

    John S.

    March 4, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    I can has haz Hooked Hookt on Phonics Fonix?

    Fixed for lolCat and lukasiak-ease.

  110. 110.

    Dennis - SGMM

    March 4, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    This idea that you have to go in the same direction until you run out of road, or over a cliff, is pure testosterone-driven nonsense.

    And whose campaign has gone over a cliff?

  111. 111.

    AkaDad

    March 4, 2008 at 7:46 pm

    My sources tell me that Obama loves the caucus.

    Yes, I’m an adolescent trapped inside a 42 year old body.

  112. 112.

    John D.

    March 4, 2008 at 7:47 pm

    Well, that line was me, not jcricket….

    I have to disagree. It is completely possible to have a consistent message that gets tuned in the expression to make it more effective and still wage a successful campaign. Reagan did this to great effect 28 years ago. Ron Paul is doing this and not helping himself right now (not all of them win, obviously).

    It’s more a matter of being true to your beliefs, rather than saying/doing anything to get elected. Which is why I’m not a politician, frankly. I’ve seen too many feel they have to go the latter route, even when I disagree.

  113. 113.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 7:47 pm

    Reading comprehension is FUN! I said that if you have a destination in mind, but you keep changing your mind and turning around every 5km, you’ll get nowhere fast.

    oh, in other words, Clinton keeps changing her mind about the destination? You mean, at times she isn’t trying to get to the White House?

    I mean, listen to yourself. You’re completely absurd. The destination is the white house, and that hasn’t changed.

  114. 114.

    John S.

    March 4, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    (That’s twice I’ve misattributed you, John. Sorry.)

    As long as you don’t confuse us for each other.

    Remember, I’m far more authoritarian than John D. is and we have different last names.

  115. 115.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 7:50 pm

    Does somebody need a nap?

    Their entire freaking campaign does.

    They need a 3 month vacation complete with margaritas, an ocean breeze, and some really good pot.

    It’ll take a while, but once they start getting back to their mental happy places…

    “duuuuuuude… that — umm — that Bobama guy”

    “hahahahahahah u totally said ‘bobaba’ hehehehehehe”

    “hhehehe yeah… that er Obama guy might get a lot of neat stuff done… ‘n stuff. We should, like… see if he’ll help us with some of our more-liberal projects… yeah?”

    “hahahahahah babama… BAbama…. baBAma…. hehehehe. [hic] ok, yeah, lezzgo say ‘hi’.”

  116. 116.

    ThymeZone

    March 4, 2008 at 7:51 pm

    Okay, right now with zero percent of the votes counted and the vote tally being Obama 0, Clinton 0 ….

    I think we can say, applying the well known lukasiak algorithm, that Clinton has decisively won Ohio.

    (Sorry Paul, you know I had to).

  117. 117.

    Krista

    March 4, 2008 at 7:52 pm

    I said that if you have a destination in mind, but you keep changing your mind and turning around every 5km, you’ll get nowhere fast.

    Actually, that one WAS my fault — sorry. I should have written it thusly:

    I said that if you have a destination in mind, but you keep changing your mind on how to get there and keep turning around every 5km, you’ll get nowhere fast.

    I knew what I meant to say, I just said it poorly.

    However, the first time I made that point, I said this:

    But you can’t keep changing your mind regarding what route you want to take to get to your destination, or you’ll never have a chance in hell of getting there.

    And you still twisted it around. So methinks the problem is still yours, not mine, my friend.

  118. 118.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 7:53 pm

    heh. As a weak excuse, I’m sick at home, and am posting through a fever.

    Don’t worry, John S., I won’t confuse you again — you’re the one in the brown shirt, right?

  119. 119.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    oh, in other words, Clinton keeps changing her mind about the destination? You mean, at times she isn’t trying to get to the White House?

    I mean, listen to yourself. You’re completely absurd. The destination is the white house, and that hasn’t changed.

    Krista said, in replying to me:

    But you can’t keep changing your mind regarding what route you want to take to get to your destination, or you’ll never have a chance in hell of getting there.

    I mock you, you pathetic, scrambling, crypto-sexist fool. You need to talk less, and lurk moar.

  120. 120.

    Dennis - SGMM

    March 4, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    I think we can say, applying the well known lukasiak algorithm, that Clinton has decisively won Ohio.

    Clinton’s incipient blowout victory in a state whose name begins and ends with the letter “o” is clear proof that she should be president.

  121. 121.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    I think all campaigns have to test their messages. Reagan ’80 was a particularly good example of that — he’d been play-testing his message for many years, so that when he ran for President, he already had a well-oiled message machine. (And even then, he had a bunch of stumbles. CO2 emissions from redwood trees, anyone?)

  122. 122.

    Martin

    March 4, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    Is it not possible to dislike Hillary for being Hillary

    Not possible. Any disparaging remark or sideward glance is deeply rooted in your primal fear of the vagina rearing up to rule over the penis.

    Any effort to argue otherwise suggests that you loathe your own race and must engage in the politics of social self-destruction by supporting the white/black/muslim candidate.

    Only someone who is truly honest with themselves and pure of heart and mind can vote for Hillary. She’s like Buddha and shit.

    (Did I get it all in?)

  123. 123.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    She’s like Buddha and shit.

    Buddha and shit? That’s an interesting pairing. Very Zen — the great thoughts of the Boddhisatva have their roots in animal feeding and in decay.

  124. 124.

    John S.

    March 4, 2008 at 8:00 pm

    Don’t worry, John S., I won’t confuse you again—you’re the one in the brown shirt, right?

    You know it!

    I even have a brown yarmalke to match.

  125. 125.

    DougJ

    March 4, 2008 at 8:03 pm

    I think we can say, applying the well known lukasiak algorithm, that Clinton has decisively won Ohio.

    Or that Ohio doesn’t count. One or the other. It’s a nondeterministic algorithm.

  126. 126.

    myiq2xu

    March 4, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    I want to be the first to say that if Obama loses both Texas and Ohio he shouldn’t quit.

  127. 127.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 8:08 pm

    I want to be the first to say that Obama should not drop out, even after he wins both Texas and Ohio. Even if he wins all four primaries, today, in fact.

  128. 128.

    ThymeZone

    March 4, 2008 at 8:08 pm

    CO2 emissions from redwood trees, anyone?

    Well yeah, if you are talking about gasoline-powered redwood trees.

    Electric redwood trees, no.

    Duh.

  129. 129.

    Martin

    March 4, 2008 at 8:09 pm

    Based on CNNs exit poll (which have been ballpark accurate) looks like a 3%-4% win for Clinton. Delegate math could go stronger either way though based on where the votes land.

  130. 130.

    Mary

    March 4, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    3%-4% in Ohio?

  131. 131.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    I want to be the first one to say that I have no damned clue where Demi stands on anything. I think he’s on one team, he contradicts that. Solidly on the Pony’s team? nope nope nope.

    Demi, to pin you down requires cork board, string, and index cards.

    And an assistant to do all the work for me.

  132. 132.

    myiq2xu

    March 4, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    3%-4% in Ohio?

    Oz

  133. 133.

    TheFountainHead

    March 4, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    I have a serious fucking crush on Nora O’Donnel. (sp?) Like, maybe it’s the alkamahol, but that woman is gorgeous AND smart. Me likey. Can I vote for her?

  134. 134.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 8:15 pm

    CNN says, in Ohio, 56% to 42% Clinton with 0% of the vote counted.

    lolwut? Am I on a bad webpage?

  135. 135.

    myiq2xu

    March 4, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    I want to be the first one to say that I have no damned clue where Demi stands on anything. I think he’s on one team, he contradicts that. Solidly on the Pony’s team? nope nope nope.

    Demi follows the old school liberal/progressive view that supporting a candidate does not mean being completely “in the tank” for that candidate.

  136. 136.

    ThymeZone

    March 4, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    Like, maybe it’s the alkamahol

    Probably. She makes a cute cheerleader, but what they need is a real journalist.

    Not many of those, these days.

  137. 137.

    ThymeZone

    March 4, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    Like, maybe it’s the alkamahol

    Probably. She makes a cute cheerleader, but what they need is a real journalist.

    Not many of those, these days.

  138. 138.

    w vincentz

    March 4, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    I must say that these comments are the most entertaining that I’ve seen in a very long time!
    I would have said so in Yiddish if I knew how.
    And so…I expect the next entertainment will be tomorrow morning’s Hillaristas spinning minimal delegate gains into a tidal wave of momentum, or something like that…
    Stay tuned.

  139. 139.

    Krista

    March 4, 2008 at 8:19 pm

    TPM is usually pretty quick with the updates.

    And yeah, Caidence, that does seem odd, but evidently over 3500 people does come up to less than 1% reporting. Good turnout today, evidently.

  140. 140.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    March 4, 2008 at 8:19 pm

    MSNBC has Obama up apprx. 300K to 225K in Texas on the side ticker even though polls don’t close for 41 minutes.

  141. 141.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    Demi follows the old school liberal/progressive view that supporting a candidate does not mean being completely “in the tank” for that candidate.

    Whaddya mean? I’m cool, too, man. I’m not like “in the tank”. I’m completely /sniff/ “out” of the tank, yo. Like, I’m SO /snerk/ clear-headed. /sniff/

    Excuse me… I have to /SNIFF/ … um… see a pony guy about some product candy power tools.

  142. 142.

    empty

    March 4, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    Don’t worry, John S., I won’t confuse you again—you’re the one in the brown shirt, right?

    You know it!

    I even have a brown yarmalke to match.

    OMG. You one of these guys?

  143. 143.

    AkaDad

    March 4, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    I know it’s early, but it looks like Diebold is ahead in Ohio.

  144. 144.

    Martin

    March 4, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    Most polls in Texas are closed. The ones in the west are a different time zone and still open. Those look like the early voter numbers. If so, Hillary is totally fucked in Texas since they expected 60% of the vote to be early voters and the caucuses favor Obama’s ground game.

  145. 145.

    Cain

    March 4, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    Nora O’Donnell

    cain

  146. 146.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    Hillaristas spinning minimal delegate gains into a tidal wave of momentum

    The Kyrgyzstani vote is a powerhouse voting block, and signifies that the momentum is starting to move against Obama, slowing his leads into the mid double-digits. We can only expect that the following catgirl vote will be enough to push Hillary over the top of the delegate count.

    Mark Penn is assuring us the Pedobear vote isn’t far behind.

  147. 147.

    TheFountainHead

    March 4, 2008 at 8:28 pm

    I just saw a commercial for Faux News Primary coverage during MSNBC’s Primary coverage…..is that normal?

  148. 148.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 8:28 pm

    Jeebus. empty, I could have gone a long, long time without seeing that particular news article.

  149. 149.

    w vincentz

    March 4, 2008 at 8:29 pm

    So…with Vermont now Obama’s, is this not 12 in a row?

  150. 150.

    TheFountainHead

    March 4, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    Nora O’Donnell

    cain

    Thanks cain…

    ….now I just need her phone number….

    /alkamahol

  151. 151.

    Dennis - SGMM

    March 4, 2008 at 8:34 pm

    Just heard one of Senator Methuselah’s campaign advisers on NPR: he says that the election will be solidly Republican in November.

    So why are we fighting amongst ourselves? McCain is going to walker our asses in November anyway.

  152. 152.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    I think we can say, applying the well known lukasiak algorithm, that Clinton has decisively won Ohio.

    but of course TZ. Obama’s winning percentages in post SuperTuesday primary states where delegates were at stake (LA, VA, MD, WI) were 21.8%, 23.0%, 28.2%, and 17.4% respectively. 0% to 0% shows that Obama’s momentum has been brought to a standstill, and Hillary is the big winner as a result!

    (and you know I had to, too!) ;-)

  153. 153.

    w vincentz

    March 4, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    “catgirl vote will be enough to push Hillary over the top of the delegate count.”
    I’d call that a push-up or an underwire…but I don’t want to say anything that can be taken as “sexist”…
    too many sensitive types about these environs (parts).

  154. 154.

    Dennis - SGMM

    March 4, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    Oops, just blockquoted part of my own post. Time for a beer.

  155. 155.

    TheFountainHead

    March 4, 2008 at 8:40 pm

    Time for another beer.

    Fixeded.

  156. 156.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    Most polls in Texas are closed. The ones in the west are a different time zone and still open. Those look like the early voter numbers.

    they don’t look like early returns… or if they are, they are coming from Obama strongholds. (ie, Harris county -which is Houston, is showing 167,000 votes, and 0% precincts reporting) see this map…

  157. 157.

    Krista

    March 4, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    too many sensitive types about these environs (parts).

    lukasiak’s only sensitive ’cause his underwire is poking him in the armpit. Don’t you just hate it when that happens? ;)

  158. 158.

    w vincentz

    March 4, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    Krista,
    Sounds like ya got that one correct. That juicy pot goes to you.
    Now, while the dealer shuffles, I’ll go get a brewskie and keep singing the old Kenny Roger’s song…
    “You’ve got to know when to hole them, know wen to fold them, know when to walk away, know when to run…”

  159. 159.

    chopper

    March 4, 2008 at 8:53 pm

    I want to be the first to say that if Obama loses both Texas and Ohio he shouldn’t quit.

    i would hope not, as he’d still have more delegates to his name than clinton.

  160. 160.

    zzyzx

    March 4, 2008 at 8:55 pm

    The lead is narrowing in Tejas. I’m getting nervous.

    OTOH Clinton is threatening to sue which much means that she’s really worried.

  161. 161.

    p.lukasiak

    March 4, 2008 at 9:04 pm

    OTOH Clinton is threatening to sue which much means that she’s really worried

    depends if she is talking about suing with regard to the caucuses or the vote. There have been lots of early reports of Obama people doing some stuff that is totally against the rules (getting people to fill in the “temporary rolls” for the caucuses tonight, and those have to be filled in only by people actually attending the caucus, and after 7:15 PM.) If Obama people are using these bogus sign in sheets to decide how delegates will be apportioned, she should sue.

  162. 162.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    I want to be the first one to say that I have no damned clue where Demi stands on anything. I think he’s on one team, he contradicts that. Solidly on the Pony’s team? nope nope nope.

    Why that’s quite the nicest thing anyone’s said to me in quite a while. Thank you!

    Seriously, CfC…demi is a persona. If he were real, he would be nothing more than a disruptive cynic; he’s more about clowning than anything else. If I met him on the street, I don’t think I’d like him very much. In fact, I think I’d dislike him intensely. He’s not a very nice “person”, as it were.

    If you’re really interested in where the-man-who-writes-demi stands, though, I am a delegate for Obama to my LD convention, although I would have worked aggressively for either Democratic candidate. From a policy perspective, Clinton is closer to my actual beliefs than Obama; I feel quite strongly that Obama’s health care plan is a disaster. However, I looked at the totality of the coterie of people around each of them, and concluded that I like the ones around him…and actively opposed many of those around her. So I’m supporting Obama, but not for his policies.

  163. 163.

    empty

    March 4, 2008 at 9:20 pm

    However, I looked at the totality of the coterie of people around each of them, and concluded that I like the ones around him…and actively opposed many of those around her. So I’m supporting Obama, but not for his policies.

    That’s interesting given the long list of Clinton people who are advising Obama. But I have focused mostly on their foreign policy teams. Which ones in particular of Hillary Clinton’s advisers don’t you like?

  164. 164.

    Jen

    March 4, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    It’s a pretty house/B & B. I heard those limited edition prints, originally $25, are selling for $1500 on eBay now. Some kinda Communist, huh?

  165. 165.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 9:46 pm

    empty,

    My big worry was McAuliffe, with Penn in second place. Those two are her closest advisers, and they would have gotten the DNC and White House CoS, respectively.

    It’s true that Obama’s foreign policy team is staffed with Clintonistas — but, then again, it’s hard to be a successful Dem with foreign policy experience and not be tied to Clinton 42.

  166. 166.

    jcricket

    March 4, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    Don’t worry, John S., I won’t confuse you again—you’re the one in the brown shirt, right?

    Yes Demi, stop getting us confused. I’m the last sane HRC supporter on this blog, apparently. And John S is some other dude.

    More importantly, is it “demi” as in half? or demi as in “I wish I looked like Demi Moore”? Or is it a mispelling of mondrian and you’re half a mondrian? These are the questions the American public wants to know.

  167. 167.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    Heh. I haven’t had to explain my handle for quite a while.

    I was a Microsoftie when I first infested BJuice, almost three years ago — a “redmondian”. I had been told that I sold out my principles to go work there, and so I was a whore…one class of which was the kept woman of fin-de-siecle Paris, the “demimondaine”. Put them together, and you have a “demimondian”.

  168. 168.

    jcricket

    March 4, 2008 at 10:15 pm

    Put them together, and you have a “demimondian”.

    Gotcha. I have specifically avoided the ‘Soft while out here in the Pacific NW. Although I did get a very lucrative offer there once – I was so turned off by the arrogance displayed during the interview process, coupled with the thought of the super-long commute that I accepted another offer.

    I have, however, worked for what feels like every other large employer out here.

  169. 169.

    John S.

    March 4, 2008 at 10:21 pm

    OMG. You one of these guys?

    Interesting, none of them seem to be wearing their tallit…

  170. 170.

    Caidence (fmr. Chris)

    March 4, 2008 at 10:23 pm

    where the-man-who-writes-demi

    Ooh, a cunning linguist AND a writer. Tell me more hot stuff!

    Wait. On second thought, don’t. I need to go home before it turns 10:30 so I can pretend I have a life.

    Put them together, and you have a “demimondian”.

    Put my handle and my handle’s note together, and you have CFC!

    im in ur atmosfere, eatin ur ozones

    /yeah, “Caidence” means absolutely nothing. Completely bullshit name.
    //you showed me yours, I showed you mine

  171. 171.

    demimondian

    March 4, 2008 at 10:29 pm

    I worked at Microsoft for more than a decade — although I told my last interviewer that I was infuriated by the attitude my interviewers had shown. Then again, they made me an awesome offer, and clearly wanted me.

    Due to the commute, I haven’t worked for any of the other big firms — no Amazon, no Adobe, no Boeing, no Safeco.

  172. 172.

    Temple Stark

    March 4, 2008 at 10:39 pm

    Great on the ground photos and reportage, Tom. Thanks

    Temple

  173. 173.

    jcricket

    March 5, 2008 at 12:34 am

    Due to the commute, I haven’t worked for any of the other big firms—no Amazon, no Adobe, no Boeing, no Safeco.

    We’re obviously on opposite sides of the lake. You’re one of those ex-urbanites I read about in all those novels by David Brooks, right? :-)

  174. 174.

    jcricket

    March 5, 2008 at 12:38 am

    Heh. I haven’t had to explain my handle for quite a while.

    Oh and mine’s pretty simple. Jiminy Cricket. J is a letter in my name, and I’m that annoying guy/conscience on your shoulder. It’s just what I’ve gone by on the boards for quite a while.

    I’m not little or green, though. And my voice isn’t especially high pitched. I do plan to have my body cryogenically preserved like Walt Disney (or was that Ted Williams, I forget). Maybe just my head.

  175. 175.

    Temple Stark

    March 5, 2008 at 1:35 am

    p.luk – pretty much suk in this thread. Not doing favors with the attitude.

    – temple

  176. 176.

    Beej

    March 5, 2008 at 2:45 am

    I was watching the coverage tonight and something occurred to me. About the time Rachel Maddow bemoaned the fact that stringing out the Democratic primaries was going to hurt the Dems in the general election, someone else commented that the Dem turnout in all the primary states tonight had been huge. Is it possible that the contest in the Democratic party will help, not hurt, the party’s chances in the general election? Lots of commentators and commenters have been ascribing the large turnouts to Obama’s skill in engaging previously uninterested groups, George Bush’s disasterous tenure, etc. But isn’t it possible that one of the most significant reasons for the increased turnout is this very interesting contest between two attractive candidates who have, up until very recently, stuck to the issues?

  177. 177.

    Gilmore

    March 5, 2008 at 3:20 pm

    (I don’t think the Castro actually has that many great restaurants, btw.)

    Orphan Andy’s. Steak & eggs at 3am. Good stuff.

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This is glorious. Glorious. https://twitter.com/yorkwhitaker/status/1205726859939303425

This is glorious. Glorious. https://t.co/rEQBKDN4Na
York Whitaker@YorkWhitaker

I love this app.

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imagine caring what cenk uygar thinks... about anything

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so just act normally?

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Now promise you’ll never drive your dad’s car drunk again, Matt. https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1205644969513537542

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Seven years ago started as a normal Friday morning.
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Even if he is not convicted in the Senate and even if Dems pay a political price, impeaching Trump is the right thing to do because he’s a criminal who broke the laws. When everything is as broken as it is now, all you can do is do the right thing and hope for the best.

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shorter Matt Bevin- “Fuck you Kentucky have some murderers"

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